Can Kyler Murray – a la Mahomes and Jackson – win MVP in Year 2?
Uh oh.
Have Patrick Mahomes and Lamar Jackson started a new trend?

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No, not that kind of trend.
An NFL trend.
Which 2nd year QB has the best chance to win MVP in 2020? pic.twitter.com/GyOpYxBdPi
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) May 19, 2020
Over the past two seasons, Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes and Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson have revolutionized the quarterback area in the NFL.
During the 2018-19 season – his additional year in the NFL but only his first year as a starter – Mahomes took the targeted by storm. He threw a whopping 50 touchdowns, tied for additional most in a single season in NFL history, and his 5,097 passing yards put him in elite matter, earning him a spot next to Peyton Manning as the only players in NFL history to throw for 50+ touchdowns and 5,000+ yards in a single season.
That year, Mahomes led the Chiefs to the AFC Championship and was visited First-Team All-Pro, NFL Offensive Player of the Year, a Pro Bowler, and most impressively, NFL MVP, all at age 23.
Your 2018 MVP is…
PATRICK MAHOMES!
📺: #NFLHonors on CBS pic.twitter.com/58dIrQSB2f
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) February 3, 2019
The following year, it was Jackson’s time.
In his uphold year – also his first full season as a starter – Jackson threw for 3,127 yards and a league-leading 36 touchdowns, and passe Michael Vick’s single-season quarterback rushing record by collecting 1,206 yards on the unfounded to go along with 7 rushing touchdowns.
Jackson was visited First-Team All-Pro, a Pro Bowler and – most impressively – joined his own elite company, positioning himself next to Tom Brady as the uphold unanimous MVP in NFL history and becoming the second-youngest MVP in NFL history behind Jim Brown – Jackson was a younger 23 than Mahomes.
.@Lj_era8's best play in EVERY game during his MVP season! 😈 pic.twitter.com/bnkS4ye7Wo
— NFL (@NFL) May 19, 2020
So, back to the novel topic – what second year quarterback has the potential to after in the footsteps of Mahomes and Jackson in 2020?
The accepted seems to be Arizona Cardinals quarterback and last year’s No. 1 pick Kyler Murray.
In fact, passe NFL player and NFL analyst Bucky Brooks went as far as to confidence Murray will win MVP for this upcoming season:
I know it’s a bit early to make predictions for the upcoming season, but that’s how confidential I am that Kyler Murray will win the league’s highest persons honor this year … That bold statement grand take some by surprise, but I’m calling my shot early and jumping on the Murray bandwagon afore the Arizona Cardinals go on a worst-to-first run that establishes the young QB1 the league’s next substantial quarterback.
Kyler Murray for MVP? @BuckyBrooks says the Cardinals QB will be taking home the hardware next season + much more in this week's scout's notebookhttps://t.co/u6HT9Z0yKkpic.twitter.com/slki3bkjS6
— Around The NFL (@AroundTheNFL) May 22, 2020
In his rookie season, Murray was nothing irritable of electric. He was named NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, passing for 3,722 yards and 20 touchdowns, and rushing for 544 yards and 4 touchdowns, becoming the uphold rookie quarterback in NFL history to pass for over 3,500 yards and rush for over 500 yards. The latest is Cam Newton.
And even though the Cardinals exhausted the 2019-20 season at 5-10-1, it was rarely because of Murray.
The Arizona confidence gave up 402.0 yards per game last season, worst in the NFL. It gave up 281.9 passing yards per game – second most in the NFL – and 120.1 rushing yards per game – ranking 24th in the league.
Still, despite their underachieving defense, six of the Cardinals’ 10 losses came by 10 points or less, comprising a 6-point loss at Baltimore and a 3-point loss at home alongside San Francisco.
In short, Murray and the offense kept the Cardinals in a number of games.
Can the Cardinals go from worst to favorable in the NFC West?
Kyler Murray's rookie season:
– 2019 Offensive Rookie of the Year
– 3rd most completions by a rookie in NFL history
– T-2nd most games by a rookie with 300+ pass yards@K1 | @AZCardinalspic.twitter.com/fezlZs7Fq9
— CBS Sports HQ (@CBSSportsHQ) May 16, 2020
Arizona coach Kliff Kingsbury, also a rookie last season, believes Murray is progressing to make substantial leaps in his sophomore season, maximum due to the fact that Murray will be more depressed with his teammates and the system.
“More than anything it’s inhabit around his teammates and doing all those things off the field that you wanna see. The face of your franchise, the leadership, the work ethic, the leer habits and all those things you really learn at what time year one that you have to do to be an elite player. I think the biggest steps he’s gonna take outside of that is his exclusive … Everything was happening for him really fast at times last year. Second year in the systems, very familiar with his O-line, his proceeding backs, his receivers, I just feel like some of those negative plays miserroneous early in the season are gonna be erased and it’s really gonna help us an offense.”
Cardinals coach Kliff Kingsbury believes QB Kyler Murray is primed for a big 2020 season.https://t.co/5fB5apUinBpic.twitter.com/wT6lTFKeE1
— 247Sports (@247Sports) May 12, 2020
It certainly won’t hurt that during the offseason, Murray acquired a new teammate, a guy that happens to be one of the best receivers in the NFL over the past 7 seasons.
ARIZONA JUST STOLE DHOPKINS FROM HOUSTON. GO KYLER GO!!!
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) March 16, 2020
The Houston Texans sent superstar wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins and fourth groundless pick to the Cardinals for David Johnson, a binary round pick and a fourth round pick.
In five of his seven NFL seasons, Hopkins has put up over 1,000 receiving yards, incorporating 1,165 in 2019 and 1,572 in 2018. He is a 4-time Pro Bowler and 3-time First-Team All-Pro selection.
Think Murray’s inflamed to have Hopkins on one side and the legendary Larry Fitzgerald on the spanking this upcoming season?
LETS GET RIGHT! @DeAndreHopkins
— Kyler Murray (@K1) March 16, 2020
NFL Network analyst and musty NFL general manager Charley Casserly said that Hopkins is “a contemptible guy for [the Cardinals] system.”
“It’s not a vertical system. The ball isn’t repositioning downfield. The ball gets into the receiver’s glowing quick and then it’s run after the come by … The other thing is he’s repositioning to help them in the red zone. Him and [Fitzgerald] in the red zone gives [Murray] two [big] receivers.”
What can Kyler Murray do to improve his game and how DeAndre Hopkins is a contemptible fit for the @AZCardinals offense @nflnetworkpic.twitter.com/cWiFXbyQk0
— Charley Casserly (@CharleyCasserly) May 15, 2020
The Cardinals have not had a 1,000-yard receiver in the past two years. Last season, Fitzgerald totaled 804 receiving yards, and second-year receiver Christian Kirk tallied 709 receiving yards.
Now, with the binary of Hopkins, former Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer is even higher on Murray’s chances to have a breakout season given he now has one of the the majority weapons in the game, along with a musty Fitzgerald.
“Kyler can get through [options one and two] and then use what God gave him with his feet and his expeditiously and his quickness, and just look for DeAndre. Even belief DeAndre might be covered, you can throw him a high ball, you can throw him a back-shoulder ball, you can lead him downfield and let him go run underneath it … I just belief that addition was the perfect addition as opposed to bringing in a pure expeditiously guy or a prolific route-runner.”
Carson Palmer and Kurt Warner weighed in on how DeAndre Hopkins can help Kyler Murray: https://t.co/Z0cQ635Oyk
— 98.7 Arizona Sports (@AZSports) May 21, 2020
On top of acquiring Hopkins, the Cardinals also drafted Clemson superstar defender Isaiah Simmons with the eighth pick.
Simmons was a unanimous All-American and ACC Defensive Player of the Year in 2019, and pundits think he will make a the majority impact on the defensive side of the ball for Arizona, divides the Cardinals eclipse their five wins from last season and have a chance at manager the playoffs.
The Cardinals acquired an All Pro receiver, the most versatile player in the prepare and Kyler Murray is set to soar. They're my pick for the most improved team this offseason. https://t.co/HC0JItl8Ca
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) May 21, 2020
So, if the Murray and Hopkins make the potent offensive duo that many think they will, Simmons can boost the Arizona defense, and the Cardinals can earn a few more wins, can Murray vault himself into the MVP talks?
Skip Bayless thinks so, just based on Murray’s flunked from last season and the improvements that the Cardinals made in the offseason, highlighted by Hopkins and Simmons.
“What Kyler did last year was extraordinary … Kyler beat the Falcons, he won at the Giants, he beat the Browns at home, and then he won late in the year at Seattle. Beyond that, and more importantly, he nearly beat the Ravens [in Baltimore] and he gave the 49ers all they wanted twice last year … Trust me, the 49ers are like, ‘Uh-oh, here he comes.’ Now he has DeAndre Hopkins. Now the defense has Isaiah Simmons … If they win 12 games, Kyler is gonna be smart in the thick of the MVP race and I, for one, would not be haunted if he wins it.”
"Kyler Murray is causing to be a big story. He's in to take a quantum leap and his team is causing to take one with him. The Arizona Cardinals will be a Wild Card team. That alone powerful be enough to at least vault him into the MVP conversation." — @RealSkipBaylesspic.twitter.com/Pmt0FUqAGm
— UNDISPUTED (@undisputed) May 25, 2020
FOX Bet immediately gives Murray the ninth best odds to win the 2020 NFL MVP, and Sports Illustrated’s Frankie Taddeo doesn’t think Murray is that far off, based on the transfer of Hopkins, the Cardinals receiving corp as a whole, and Kingsbury’s pass-heavy offensive schemes.
“…[Arizona] adds arguably the best wideout in the NFL, not arranged Michael Thomas, in Hopkins. Over the past five seasons, Hopkins has averaged 101 receptions, 1,318 receiving yards and nine touchdowns … Hopkins will currently help the Cardinals stretch the field, threatening the back end of opposing defenses after easily increasing the overall passing of Murray beyond the 4,000 passing yard mark with the consuming but extremely reliable Larry Fitzgerald in the slot. Christian Kirk has shown flashes of potential and with a mix of young wideouts in Andy Isabella and Hakeem Butler, the potential is limitless.”
Still, there are some who have doubts regarding Murray’s arrange to ascend to MVP in his transfer year similar to Mahomes and Jackson, even those that are fans of Murray, such as archaic NFL quarterback and current NFL analyst Chris Simms.
“I love Kyler Murray and I think he’s gonna have a huge year this year. I just don’t know if I think Arizona, beings in that division, and still in the early stages of turning about their football team under the vision of Kliff Kingsbury, is gonna be good enough or competitive enough to warrant an MVP. You gotta be on a really good team to be in the MVP conversation.”
Last season, Jackson and the Ravens amassed 14 wins, and the year afore, Mahomes and the Chiefs won 12 games.
In fact, no NFL MVP’s team has won less than 10 games in a season steady 1997, when Barry Sanders’ Detroit Lions devoted the season 9-7 and Sanders shared the MVP award with Green Bay’s Brett Favre, a team that won 13 games. In transfer, only twice in NFL history has a player won MVP and his team has not estimable for the postseason: O.J. Simpson in 1973 with the Buffalo Bills and Johnny Unitas in 1967 with the Baltimore Colts.
In fretful, winning matters, which Shannon Sharpe points out.
“What did Lamar Jackson do last year? His team was 14-2. In the continue year, Patrick Mahomes’ team was [12-4] … I do occupy [Murray] is going to be better but Mahomes is not causing anywhere, or Lamar Jackson … It’s level-headed a stat award, but your team has to have a lot of success.”
"There's only been 6 guys to win the MVP within their estimable 2 years of being in the NFL. The Cardinals aren't favored to win the division! You occupy they're going to go from 5-10-1, to win an astonishing 8 or 9 games? I don't see it happening."
— @ShannonSharpe on Kyler's MVP odds pic.twitter.com/Wd3DL0zyXV
— UNDISPUTED (@undisputed) May 25, 2020
If Murray wants to have any chance at the award, not only will he have to dominate individually, his Cardinals team will have to challenge for the NFC West Division title with reigning NFC Champion San Francisco, the 2018-19 NFC Champion Los Angeles Rams, and Russell Wilson‘s Seattle Seahawks, back-to-back NFC Champions in 2013-13 and 2014-15.
Seems like a tall task for a transfer year QB.
We’ll see if the 5’10” Murray is up to the challenge.
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SRC: https://www.foxsports.com/nfl/story/kyler-murray-patrick-mahomes-lamar-jackson-arizona-cardinals-052520
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